I’m writing this from the rooftop of my Airbnb in Costa Rica. The sky is wide and bright, the air warm, the world alive around me. For a moment, I was soaking in the beauty. And then—without even thinking—I reached for my phone and started playing a game.
What?
The words “Be here now!” rushed to my mind.
The Crossroads of Attention
It struck me how quickly we trade wonder for distraction. Here I am in Costa Rica—experiencing a culture many people will never have the chance to visit, hearing a new language, surrounded by sights unfamiliar to my daily life—and I was about to miss it all for a game of solitaire.
Why do we do this? Laziness? Habit? Difficulty slowing down? Even addiction?
In truth, why often doesn’t matter. What matters is the choice we make in that crucial, if very small, crossroads. Do we stay present with gratitude and wonder? Or do we retreat into the familiar distractions that can happen anywhere?
Choosing Presence
In that moment, I chose differently. I put my phone away. I felt the wind. I listened to the sounds. I let my soul be refreshed by quiet reflection—the white space I often talk about with clients.
I practiced diaphragmatic breathing and opened myself to whatever God (or the universe, if that’s your word) had for me in that moment.
It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t grand. But it was real.
And I didn’t miss it because of another round of solitaire.
Distractions Aren’t the Enemy
Don’t get me wrong—solitaire isn’t bad. None of our diversions are inherently harmful. But they aren’t always the best option.
The key is discernment: noticing when a distraction is stealing from the very thing that could restore you, inspire you, or connect you more deeply to life.
Like Robert Frost said, choosing the better way—even in small things—“made all the difference.”
Your Turn
So here’s the question:
When, and where, will you put down your distraction to be present with yourself, with others, or with the world around you?
Because sometimes the most powerful choice is simply to be here now.
